AB0141 GUT MICROBIOTA DYSBIOSIS IN KOREAN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
Authors: J. W. Kim, J. Y. Jung, H. A. Kim, C. H. Suh
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> In the development of various illnesses including autoimmune diseases, many studies proving the crucial role of gut microbes are gradually being reported. Alterations of gut microbiota can lead to abnormalities in the host immune system, causing autoimmune, which can ac as pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). <h3>Objectives</h3> The purpose of this study was to analyze the diversity and taxonomic composition of the gut microbiotas affecting SLE and to investigate their association with disease activities. <h3>Methods</h3> Fecal samples of 38 patients with SLE in Ajou Lupus Cohort and 52 age and sex-matched healthy volunteers were provided by the same protocol. We analysed the components of the gut microbiota in feces via 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing, and evaluated alpha and beta diversities. Demographic, laboratory, and medication data of SLE patients were obtained through medical records, and Pearson correlation analysis was performed to analyse the association between disease activity and gut microbiota. <h3>Results</h3> We observed a significant decrease in species richness in the beta diversity analysis by NMDS plots compared to controls in the SLE group. Compared with SLE and healthy controls (HCs), significant differences were found at phylum, genus, species levels in the taxonomic composition. At the species level, there were 7 species with a significantly higher relative abundance and 7 species with a lower relative abundance in the SLE group compared to the HCs, of which the reduction of <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> and <i>Prevotella copri</i> (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) played an important role in SLE. Pearson correlation analysis suggested that <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was</i> positively correlated with complement 3 and complement 4 (r = 0.44 and r = 0.49, respectively), and <i>Prevotella copri</i> was positively correlated with total lymphocytes (r = 0.45). <h3>Conclusion</h3> There was a significant difference in the composition and diversity of gut microbiota between SLE patients and healthy controls in Korean population. In particular, <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> and <i>Prevotella copri,</i> which are greatly reduced in patients with SLE, are expected to provide potential targets for new treatment. <h3>References</h3> [1]Zhan Y, Liu Q, Zhang B, Huang X, Lu Q. Recent advances in systemic lupus erythematosus and microbiota: from bench to bedside. Front Med (2022) 16(5):686-700. Doi: 10.1007/s11684-022-0957-7. [2]Chen Y, Lin J, Xiao L, Zhang X, Zhao L, Wang M et al. Gut microbiota in systemic lupus erythematosus: A fuse and a solution. J Autoimmun (2022) 132:102867. Doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102867. [3]Xiang S, Qu Y, Qian S, Wang R, Wang Y, Jin Y et al. Association between systemic lupus erythematosus and disruption of gut microbiota: a meta-analysis. Lupus Sci Med (2022) 9(1):e000599. Doi: 10.1136/lupus-2021-000599. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.